The objective of the study was to identify farmers’ perceptions towards changing climate along with their farm-level adaptation measures with a view to suggest appropriate research/ policy issues which help in facilitating farmers’ adaptation to changing climate. Role of extension in facilitating adaptation to changing climate is discussed.

This publication is an attempt to share the initial outcomes of Technology Demonstration Component being implemented by selected KVKs. In this, significant lessons learnt and initial impact of the interventions on helping the farmers to cope with climate variabilities are presented.

Rainfed agriculture constitutes 55% of net sown area in the country. The annual average rainfall of the country varies from 400 to more than 2000mm varying in both space and time. In low to medium rainfall rainfed regions, the occurrence of high intense rainfall events with the short duration are very common causing the soil erosion.

Rainfed Agriculture extends over 87.5 m.ha of net sown area in different agro-climatic zones of our country and contributes over 40 percent to our food basket. Rainfed agriculture in turn supports 40 percent of human and 60 percent of livestock populations.